US8699395B2 - Method and device for inverse multiplexing of multicast transmission - Google Patents

Method and device for inverse multiplexing of multicast transmission Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US8699395B2
US8699395B2 US11/575,054 US57505405A US8699395B2 US 8699395 B2 US8699395 B2 US 8699395B2 US 57505405 A US57505405 A US 57505405A US 8699395 B2 US8699395 B2 US 8699395B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
multicast
stream
devices
messages
inverse
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active, expires
Application number
US11/575,054
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
US20080259838A1 (en
Inventor
Jan Herman Laarhuis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Infotech Labs LLC
Original Assignee
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court litigation Critical https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/Texas%20Eastern%20District%20Court/case/2%3A24-cv-00632 Source: District Court Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court "Unified Patents Litigation Data" by Unified Patents is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court litigation https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/Texas%20Eastern%20District%20Court/case/2%3A24-cv-00633 Source: District Court Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court "Unified Patents Litigation Data" by Unified Patents is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO filed Critical Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
Assigned to NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST-NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO reassignment NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST-NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: LAARHUIS, JAN HERMAN
Publication of US20080259838A1 publication Critical patent/US20080259838A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US8699395B2 publication Critical patent/US8699395B2/en
Assigned to INFOTECH LABS, LLC reassignment INFOTECH LABS, LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST-NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
Active legal-status Critical Current
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
    • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
    • H04L12/2854—Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
    • H04L12/2856—Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access
    • H04L12/2858—Access network architectures
    • H04L12/2861—Point-to-multipoint connection from the data network to the subscribers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L1/00—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
    • H04L1/12—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel
    • H04L1/16—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
    • H04L1/1607—Details of the supervisory signal
    • H04L1/1685—Details of the supervisory signal the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
    • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
    • H04L12/185—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast with management of multicast group membership

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a communication network, a method of operating such a network and devices for use in such a network.
  • the invention relates in particular to multicast transmission of messages through the communication network.
  • Messages in a network can be distinguished into unicast messages, broadcast messages and multicast messages.
  • the difference between these types of messages involves addressing of these messages.
  • a unicast message is addressed at a single terminal of the network, a broadcast message is addressed at all terminals of the network and a multicast message is addressed at a group of a plurality of the terminals of the network.
  • a multicast message typically includes a group address as a destination address, rather than the addresses of individual terminals.
  • a multicast message could be broadcast to all terminals of the network, each terminal inspecting the messages for the presence of a group address to determine whether the message is relevant for the terminal.
  • multicast routers are used to restrict transmission of multicast messages to relevant terminals. This means that the multicast routers must have information about the terminals that need to receive multicast messages with specific group addresses.
  • a host in the network indicates that it has to receive multicast messages with a specific group address
  • a multicast router records that messages with that group address must be routed to the terminal to which the host is connected. The multicast router can record this for a plurality of terminals, so that it will route copies of the multicast message to the plurality of terminals.
  • an inverse multiplexer is provided (typically in a telephone exchange) that distributes message traffic for one subscriber over the subscriber lines of a plurality of subscribers.
  • an inverse demultiplexing device is provided at each subscriber site.
  • the inverse demultiplexing devices of different subscribers are cross-connected to communicate inversely multiplexed messages, and each inverse demultiplexing device is arranged to reassemble a message stream for its subscriber by means of inverse demultiplexing.
  • decentralized inverse demultiplexing is used to reassemble the streams for different terminals.
  • the destination of the messages determines which of the demultiplexing devices will reassemble the message stream.
  • This inverse demultiplexing scheme is preferably implemented so that it is transparent for the remainder of the network, including multicast routers. This means that this scheme can readily be combined with all network functions, including multicast transmission.
  • a set of inversely multiplexed lines may be used downstream from a multicast router. If a single terminal is located downstream of the inversely multiplexed lines this requires no additional measures: the stream of multicast messages is inversely multiplexed and demultiplexed on its way to the terminal if the terminal has subscribed to the multicast stream. If more than one potential subscribers are located downstream of the inversely multiplexed lines two multicast routers are preferably used, one upstream of the inversely multiplexed lines and one downstream, so that the upstream multicast router will send a stream of multicast messages to the downstream multicast router via the inverse multiplexed lines and the downstream multicast router will send copies of the stream to different subscribers terminals (or further multicast routers).
  • a method according to the invention is set forth in claim 1 .
  • a stream of multicast messages is forwarded through a network to a plurality of subscriber devices.
  • the stream is inverse multiplexed and transmitted distributed over a plurality of communication channels.
  • a plurality of inverse demultiplexers is provided, to reassemble a plurality of copies of the stream from the multiplexed streams from the communication channels at different locations.
  • a distribution of the multicast stream to different subscriber devices takes place at a stage where the multicast stream is still inversely multiplexed. That is, a single multicast stream for a group address is inversely multiplexed and this inversely multiplexed stream is then distributed to a plurality of inverse demultiplexing devices each for a respective device that has subscribed to the stream.
  • a plurality of forwarding devices is provided, connected to different inversely multiplexed communication channels, each to forward a respective inversely multiplexed part of the stream to a plurality of inverse multiplexing devices.
  • subscription information which indicates which of the inverse multiplexing devices are coupled to subscribed devices, is preferably sent to and stored in all of the forwarding devices so that each forwarding device is able to control to which of the inverse demultiplexing devices the inversely multiplexed parts of the stream will be forwarded.
  • forwarding involves transmission of respective copies to different inverse demultiplexing devices.
  • a broadcast medium is used to send the inversely multiplexed parts of the stream to all inverse demultiplexing devices, at least if at least one inverse demultiplexing device of a subscriber is not coupled directly to the forwarding device.
  • the forwarding device provides for acknowledgement of reception of the inversely multiplexed parts from selected inverse demultiplexing devices that have been recorded to serve subscribers of the multicast stream.
  • a record of the different subscribed devices is preferably kept to determined whether transmission of the stream of multicast messages must be continued. Once transmission of the stream has started after subscription of a first device no modification is made to the transmission when subscription of further devices is recorded. Transmission of the stream is discontinued only when it has been recorded that subscription of all devices to the stream has been cancelled.
  • the method is applied to inverse multiplexing of information delivered over local loop telephone subscriber lines, to nearby homes of different subscribers. In this way the different subscribers can share the bandwidth of their telephone lines.
  • the inversely multiplexed stream is forwarded by wireless radio transmission between the different homes to inverse demultiplexing devices in each home.
  • the method is applied to delivery of video and/or audio channels.
  • FIG. 1 shows part of a network
  • FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of part of a network
  • FIG. 3 shows signal exchanges for multicast
  • FIGS. 3 a - c show alternative signal exchanges
  • FIG. 4 shows an inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device
  • FIG. 5 shows acknowledge signals
  • FIG. 1 shows a part of a network, comprising a multicast router 10 , an inverse multiplexing device 12 , a plurality of functionally parallel connections 14 , a plurality of inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 , a local network 17 and a plurality of hosts 18 .
  • Multicast router 10 has a network connection 11 to a further part of the network (not shown) and a connection to inverse multiplexing device 12 .
  • Inverse multiplexing device 12 is connected to the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 , each via a respective one of the functionally parallel connections 14 .
  • Inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 are coupled to each other via local network 17 .
  • Each inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 is coupled to a respective one of the hosts 18 .
  • three connections 14 with attached inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 and hosts 18 are shown, it should be understood that in practice a larger number will typically be used, but it is also possible to use two connections 14 .
  • connection 11 typically contains various conventional sources of multicast streams and any number of further multicast routers and other routers that may be arranged in a conventional way to supply messages to input 11 .
  • the network part realizes message traffic between network connection 11 and hosts 18 .
  • a stream of messages for hosts 18 is received at network connection 11 and sent to inverse multiplexing device 12 , which distributes the stream over connections 14 by means of inverse multiplexing, e.g. according to a round robin distribution scheme.
  • Each inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 receives those messages of the stream that have been sent over the connection 14 to which the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 is connected.
  • the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 forwards these messages to other inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 if the messages are needed by hosts 18 other than the host that is connected to the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 .
  • the connected inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 of that host 18 reassembles a stream from the messages that it receives from its connection 14 and from the other inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 , by means of inverse demultiplexing.
  • Conventional message formats and protocols such as used in telecommunications equipment, and/or for Internet communication may be used for transmission of the messages.
  • conventional message transmission equipment such as telecommunication (telephone network) equipment or computer networking equipment may be used to perform message transmission, the equipment being modified (e.g. reprogrammed) to perform inverse multiplexing and inverse demultiplexing.
  • additional inverse multiplexing and inverse demultiplexing equipment may be added.
  • Each messages contains a destination address.
  • the destination address identifies a specific host 18 .
  • the address specifies an abstract group. Individual ones of hosts 18 may indicate whether they want to receive multicast messages with the address of the group.
  • inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 can handle the messages on the base of their destination address: if the address is of another host than the host 18 to which the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 is connected, the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 forwards the message to the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 to which the addressed host 18 is connected. If the address is of the host to which the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 is connected, the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 uses the message, together with messages from the other inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices, to reassemble the stream of messages for its host 18 .
  • each inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 stores information that indicates for one or more group addresses which of hosts 18 have to receive multicast messages that have that group address. For each multicast message that the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 receives from its connection 14 , the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 compares the group address with the group address (or addresses) for which information is stored. If the address matches and the information indicates that a host 18 other than the host 18 that is connected to the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 has to receive multicast messages with the group address, the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 forwards the multicast message via local network 17 to the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 that is connected to the relevant host 18 .
  • the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 reassembles the multicast stream from multicast messages with a common group address if its information indicates that its host 18 has to receive the stream with that group address. In this case the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 uses messages that it receives from its connection 14 and the other inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 to reassemble the stream.
  • the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 preferably are devices that combine the function of forwarding and inverse multiplexing each in a single apparatus located at the site of a subscriber of a telephone line that forms connection 14 , e.g. at the house of the subscriber.
  • these apparatuses contain receivers and transmitters for electromagnetic radiation to form the local network 17 .
  • wired connections between these apparatuses may be used to form the local network 17 instead.
  • a set of point-to-point connections between inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 may be used to cross-couple the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 .
  • FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a different network organization.
  • Forwarding units 22 and inverse demultiplexing devices 20 are provided, Forwarding units 22 are coupled between respective connections 14 and local network 17 .
  • Inverse multiplexing devices 20 are coupled between hosts 18 and local network 17 .
  • forwarding units 22 use the destination addresses of messages to determine to which of the demultiplexing devices 20 messages will be forwarded via local network 17 .
  • forwarding units 22 record the information that indicates, for one or more group addresses, which hosts 18 need to receive multicast messages with those group addresses. When a forwarding unit 22 receives a multicast message at its connection 14 the forwarding unit 22 uses the information to determine to which of demultiplexing devices 20 the forwarding unit 22 will forward the multicast message through local network 17 .
  • Hosts 18 preferably send “join” messages to indicate the group address or group addresses of multicast messages that the hosts 18 want to receive.
  • FIG. 3 shows a timing diagram of a first embodiment of message traffic to establish a stream of multicast messages to a host.
  • Time evolution is represented vertically.
  • Vertical lines 30 symbolize different hosts 18 .
  • Vertical lines 32 symbolize different inverse multiplexing devices 16 .
  • Vertical line 33 symbolizes inverse multiplexer 12 .
  • Vertical line 34 symbolizes multicast router 10 .
  • Horizontal lines with arrows symbolize messages.
  • a host 18 When a host 18 indicates that it has to receive multicast messages with a specific group address, that host 18 first sends “join” messages 36 specifying that group address to all inverse multiplexing devices 16 . In response to these messages multiplexing devices 16 record that messages with the specified group address must be forwarded.
  • the multiplexing device 16 that is connected to the host 18 preferably records that those messages must be forwarded to the host 18 and the other multiplexing device preferably records that those messages must be forwarded to the multiplexing device 16 that is connected to the host.
  • the host 18 sends a join message 38 to the multicast router 10 , specifying the group address.
  • the multicast router records that multicast messages with that group address must be forwarded to inverse multiplexer 12 .
  • FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the effective end-to-end information flow due to join messages, rather than a particular implementation of the join messages.
  • this end-to-end information flow may be realized by a series of messages and/or signals wherein one signal in the series triggers the next.
  • a host 18 may send a join message to some multicast administrator device (not shown), which subsequently sends signals to update control information in multicast router 10 and inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 .
  • FIG. 3 a shows a further embodiment wherein the host 18 sends a join message 36 to its particular connected multiplexing device 16 , specifying the group address.
  • the particular multiplexing device 16 sends auxiliary join messages 37 to the other multiplexing devices 16 , each auxiliary join message 37 indicating that those multiplexing devices 16 must forward multicast messages with the specified group address to the particular multiplexing device 16 .
  • FIG. 3 b shows an embodiment that may be combined with the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 3 a , wherein the particular connected multiplexing device 16 of the host sends a further auxiliary join message to multicast router 10 instead of the direct message from the host 18 .
  • the further auxiliary join message indicates that multicast router 10 must forward multicast messages with the specified group address to the inverse multiplexer 12 .
  • FIG. 3 c shows yet another embodiment wherein the particular connected multiplexing device 16 of the host (or the host itself) sends a join message addressed to inverse multiplexing device 12 instead of to multicast router 10 .
  • inverse multiplexing device 12 sends an auxiliary join message to multicast router 10 to indicate that multicast router 10 must forward multicast messages with the specified group address to the inverse multiplexer 12 .
  • multicast router 10 and inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 have recorded information in response to the join messages, multicast messages can be routed to hosts 18 .
  • FIG. 3 shows an example of how multicast messages A 1 , A 2 and A 3 with the same group address are routed from multicast router 10 .
  • Inverse multiplexing device 12 routes copies B 1 , B 2 and B 3 messages via respective different connections 14 , to different inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 .
  • One of the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 has recorded that its host 18 needs to receive the multicast messages with the group address.
  • This inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 uses the message B 3 from connection 14 to forward a message D 3 to its host 18 .
  • the other inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 have recorded that the multicast message with the group address must be forwarded, which is done by sending messages C 1 , C 2 to the particular inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 that is connected to the host 18 that needs to receive the multicast messages with that group address.
  • This particular inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 uses the messages C 1 , C 2 from the other inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 to forward message D 1 , D 2 to its host 18 .
  • join messages 36 a,b may be sent to inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 and multicast router 10 .
  • Inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 and multicast router 10 record the information.
  • the other embodiments that have been described for sending join messages for the first host may be used as well.
  • Multicast router 10 does not change its behaviour in response to the information from the join messages: multicast router 10 continues to send only one copy of each multicast message to inverse multiplexing device 12 . In addition multicast router 10 merely records that more than one host 18 now has to receive multicast messages with a specified group address, to ensure that multicast router 10 will continue forwarding the multicast messages at least when it has not been detected that all of those hosts no longer need to receive the multicast messages. This is shown by means of messages 39 .
  • Inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 change their behaviour in response to the join messages: they will now forward copies of the multicast messages to a plurality of the other inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 , and more than one of the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices will reassemble the stream of messages with the group addresses and deliver the reassembled stream to its host 18 . This is shown by means of messages 39 .
  • join messages are sent to forwarding units 22 to make that forwarding units forward multicast messages with a specified address to selected inverse demultiplexing devices 20 for reassembly of the multicast stream and delivery to the connected host 18 .
  • FIG. 4 shows an example of an inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 .
  • the device contains a transceiver 160 coupled to one of the connections 14 to inverse multiplexer 12 (not shown).
  • Transceiver 160 is coupled to a multicast address comparator circuit 161 , which in turn is coupled to a multicast subscription memory 162 .
  • Multicast subscription memory 162 stores multicast group addresses, each in association with addresses of inverse demultiplexing devices for hosts 18 that have subscribed to a multicast stream with that group address.
  • the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 contains a forwarding circuit 164 , an inverse demultiplexer 168 and a wireless transceiver 166 a,b .
  • comparator circuit 161 detects that an incoming message carries a group address that corresponds to an address in memory 162 , comparator circuit 161 signals to a forwarding circuit 164 that the multicast message must be forwarded to the inverse demultiplexing devices that have been recorded in memory 162 .
  • forwarding circuit 164 forwards the multicast message accordingly. If the multicast message must be forwarded to remote demultiplexing devices, forwarding circuit 164 forwards the multicast message to a transmitter part 166 a of wireless transceiver 166 a,b which transmits the multicast message to the remote demultiplexing devices via a wireless input/output 165 .
  • a receiver part 166 b of wireless transceiver 166 a,b receives multicast messages from remote forwarding devices via a wireless input/output 165 .
  • Inverse demultiplexing device 168 has a connection 167 to a local host (not shown). If the local host has subscribed to a stream of multicast messages inverse demultiplexing device 168 receives inversely multiplexed multicast messages from the local forwarding circuit 164 and from the receiver part 166 b and inversely demultiplexes the stream of multicast messages. Inverse demultiplexing device 168 transmits the inversely demultiplexed stream to the connection 167 for the local host.
  • inverse demultiplexing/forwarding device 16 contains a subscription control circuit 169 .
  • Subscription control circuit 169 receives join messages from the local host via connection 167 .
  • subscription control circuit 169 records the subscription in memory 162 and causes transmitter part 166 b to forward the join message to other inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 .
  • Receiver part 166 b receives join messages from other inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 .
  • subscription control circuit 169 records (in memory 162 ) the subscriptions of hosts that are connected to the other inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 .
  • the inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 of this embodiment use a wireless network to implement local network 17 .
  • a wireless network may be used, with correspondingly different transceiver 166 a,b .
  • a local network may be a broadcast local network 17 , wherein all receiver parts 166 b have access to all messages.
  • inverse demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 or forwarding units 22 may be arranged to broadcast all multicast messages if there is at least one subscription.
  • the demultiplexing/forwarding devices 16 or the demultiplexing devices 20 receive the join messages for specific group addresses from their host 18 .
  • a particular demultiplexing device for which a join message has been received in this embodiment responds by selecting the multicast messages with the specified group address from the local network 17 , to reassemble the multicast stream for delivery to its host.
  • FIG. 5 shows an example of acknowledgement signals 50 that are returned by the inverse multiplexing devices 16 .
  • the transmission devices that transmit multicast messages to the inverse demultiplexing devices preferably use stored information to indicate from which of the demultiplexing devices acknowledgement signals should be received.
  • the device that transmits multicast messages to the inverse demultiplexing devices can be arranged to retransmit a multicast message if at least one of the demultiplexing devices for which this information is stored does not return an acknowledgement signal.
  • a “leave messages” from a host 18 is used to indicate when a host no longer needs to receive multicast messages with specific group addresses (or with any group addresses).
  • the host 18 transmits these messages directly or indirectly to multicast router 10 and subsequently to all inverse demultiplexing devices 16 (or 20 ), or to forwarding units 22 .
  • inverse demultiplexing devices 16 (or 20 ), or to forwarding units 22 remove their recorded information that the host has to receive the multicast messages.
  • multicast router 10 In response to a leave message multicast router 10 records that the host no longer need to receive multicast messages with the specified address (or any address). When multicast router 10 has recorded that other ones of hosts 18 still need to receive multicast messages with the specified address it simply continues sending a single copy of each multicast message to inverse multiplexing device 12 . Once multicast router 10 has recorded that none of hosts 18 still need to receive multicast messages with the specified address multicast router 10 responds to the leave message by discontinuing sending of copies of the multicast messages to inverse multiplexing device 12 .
  • a separate multicast router 10 and inverse multiplexing device 12 have been shown, it should be understood that these devices may be combined into one device, do that inverse multiplexing device 12 is coupled directly to input 11 and forwards multicast messages of with a specific group address if it has recorded that at least one of the connected hosts 18 need to receive multicast messages with that group address.
  • multicast router 10 may be split into a first device that handles multicast messages (and other messages) and a second device that processes join messages by adapting the programming of the first device.
  • messages from input 11 are preferably transmitted unmodified from input 11 to hosts
  • modified messages may be used for transmission to the hosts, such as messages obtained by splitting the content from a message that is received at input 11 , or, conversely, by combining the content of a plurality of messages that are received at input 11 .
  • the devices may be arranged to modify the multicast messages by replacement of the multicast address by some other address that will be recognized by other devices.
  • inverse demultiplexing devices 16 , 20 may be arranged to discard the message structure altogether so as to reconstruct a stream of data from the content of the messages in a stream of messages.
  • multicast router 10 sends only a single copy of each needed multicast message to inverse multiplexing device
  • inverse multiplexing device 12 may be arranged to discard all but one of the copies (e.g. all later copies) of a multicast message so that only one copy is forwarded through the inversely multiplexed connections 14 . This results in increased bandwidth when the bandwidth of those connections 14 is the bottleneck of the network, even if the connection between multicast router 10 and inverse multiplexing circuit 12 is not optimally used.
  • connections 14 are local loop telephone subscriber lines (e.g. to the building of a subscriber), it should be understood that other types of connections 14 may be use, such as for example lines to a subscriber in a cable TV system, or any other communication channels over which information can be transmitted in parallel.
  • All of the devices, units, hosts and the multicast router 10 may be implemented as suitably programmed programmable computer circuits with I/O interfaces to receive and transmit messages. But instead, some or all of the devices etc. may be dedicated circuits that are permanently arranged to perform their respective functions.
  • hosts 18 may be programmable computers, but they may also be audio and/or video equipment that are arranged to receive and render a television and/or radio channel using information from a multicast stream.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
  • Small-Scale Networks (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
US11/575,054 2004-09-10 2005-09-09 Method and device for inverse multiplexing of multicast transmission Active 2028-10-02 US8699395B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04077507.4 2004-09-10
EP04077507 2004-09-10
EP04077507A EP1635504A1 (en) 2004-09-10 2004-09-10 Method and device for inverse multiplexing of multicast transmission
PCT/NL2005/000651 WO2006028371A1 (en) 2004-09-10 2005-09-09 Method and device for inverse multiplexing of multicast transmission

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20080259838A1 US20080259838A1 (en) 2008-10-23
US8699395B2 true US8699395B2 (en) 2014-04-15

Family

ID=34928499

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/575,054 Active 2028-10-02 US8699395B2 (en) 2004-09-10 2005-09-09 Method and device for inverse multiplexing of multicast transmission

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US8699395B2 (zh)
EP (2) EP1635504A1 (zh)
JP (1) JP2008512931A (zh)
CN (1) CN101057450B (zh)
AT (1) ATE466432T1 (zh)
DE (1) DE602005020947D1 (zh)
WO (1) WO2006028371A1 (zh)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101212466B (zh) * 2006-12-29 2010-08-11 华为技术有限公司 一种传输反向多播数据的方法及系统
EP2223477A4 (en) * 2007-12-10 2011-09-14 Ericsson Telefon Ab L M METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTINUOUS DATA TRANSMISSION

Citations (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2000244488A (ja) 1999-02-19 2000-09-08 Fujitsu Ltd マルチキャストセッション管理装置
WO2001091383A1 (en) 2000-05-22 2001-11-29 Infineon Technologies Ag Inverse multiplexer device
US20020009073A1 (en) * 2000-04-06 2002-01-24 The Distributio Systems Research Research Instit Terminal -to-terminal communication connection control method using IP transfer network
WO2002047428A1 (de) 2000-12-04 2002-06-13 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren zum rundsenden von rundsende-informationen über zumindest ein kommunikationsnetz
WO2003105421A1 (ja) 2002-06-06 2003-12-18 インターナショナル・ビジネス・マシーンズ・コーポレーション ディジタル・コンテンツ配信システム、ディジタル・コンテンツ配信方法、該方法を実行するためのプログラム、該プログラムを記憶したコンピュータ可読な記録媒体、およびそのためのサーバおよびクライアント
EP1398938A2 (en) 2002-09-13 2004-03-17 ProxyConn, Inc. System and method for transmission of data through multiple streams
WO2004043019A1 (ja) 2002-11-05 2004-05-21 Fujitsu Limited ネットワーク中継方法及び装置
US20040172658A1 (en) * 2000-01-14 2004-09-02 Selim Shlomo Rakib Home network for ordering and delivery of video on demand, telephone and other digital services
US20040210927A1 (en) * 2003-04-21 2004-10-21 Bahr Charles C. Multicasting systems using distributed user authentication
US20050055280A1 (en) * 2003-09-05 2005-03-10 Gabrielle Jeans Method, system and apparatus for internet-based sales generation
US7096193B1 (en) * 1999-05-21 2006-08-22 Servicemagic, Inc. Facilitating commerce among consumers and service providers by matching ready-to-act consumers and pre-qualified service providers
US7126970B2 (en) * 2001-12-20 2006-10-24 Tropic Networks Inc. Communication system with balanced transmission bandwidth
US7212548B2 (en) * 2002-06-21 2007-05-01 Adtran, Inc. Multiple T1 channel inverse multiplexing method and apparatus
US7269185B2 (en) * 2000-05-22 2007-09-11 Nortel Networks Limited Management and control of multi-layer networks
US7433876B2 (en) * 2004-02-23 2008-10-07 Radar Networks, Inc. Semantic web portal and platform
US7606782B2 (en) * 2000-05-24 2009-10-20 Oracle International Corporation System for automation of business knowledge in natural language using rete algorithm

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1224219C (zh) * 2003-03-04 2005-10-19 深圳市迪威视讯技术有限公司 多路网络接口的反向复用方法
NL1023631C2 (nl) 2003-06-10 2004-12-14 Tno Verbindingsstelsel, inverse multiplexer, data communicatie netwerk, werkwijze en computerprogramma.

Patent Citations (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2000244488A (ja) 1999-02-19 2000-09-08 Fujitsu Ltd マルチキャストセッション管理装置
US7096193B1 (en) * 1999-05-21 2006-08-22 Servicemagic, Inc. Facilitating commerce among consumers and service providers by matching ready-to-act consumers and pre-qualified service providers
US20040172658A1 (en) * 2000-01-14 2004-09-02 Selim Shlomo Rakib Home network for ordering and delivery of video on demand, telephone and other digital services
US20020009073A1 (en) * 2000-04-06 2002-01-24 The Distributio Systems Research Research Instit Terminal -to-terminal communication connection control method using IP transfer network
WO2001091383A1 (en) 2000-05-22 2001-11-29 Infineon Technologies Ag Inverse multiplexer device
US7269185B2 (en) * 2000-05-22 2007-09-11 Nortel Networks Limited Management and control of multi-layer networks
US7606782B2 (en) * 2000-05-24 2009-10-20 Oracle International Corporation System for automation of business knowledge in natural language using rete algorithm
WO2002047428A1 (de) 2000-12-04 2002-06-13 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren zum rundsenden von rundsende-informationen über zumindest ein kommunikationsnetz
US20040037280A1 (en) 2000-12-04 2004-02-26 Georg Hein Method for multicasting information via at least one communications network
US7126970B2 (en) * 2001-12-20 2006-10-24 Tropic Networks Inc. Communication system with balanced transmission bandwidth
WO2003105421A1 (ja) 2002-06-06 2003-12-18 インターナショナル・ビジネス・マシーンズ・コーポレーション ディジタル・コンテンツ配信システム、ディジタル・コンテンツ配信方法、該方法を実行するためのプログラム、該プログラムを記憶したコンピュータ可読な記録媒体、およびそのためのサーバおよびクライアント
US7212548B2 (en) * 2002-06-21 2007-05-01 Adtran, Inc. Multiple T1 channel inverse multiplexing method and apparatus
EP1398938A2 (en) 2002-09-13 2004-03-17 ProxyConn, Inc. System and method for transmission of data through multiple streams
WO2004043019A1 (ja) 2002-11-05 2004-05-21 Fujitsu Limited ネットワーク中継方法及び装置
US20040210927A1 (en) * 2003-04-21 2004-10-21 Bahr Charles C. Multicasting systems using distributed user authentication
US20050055280A1 (en) * 2003-09-05 2005-03-10 Gabrielle Jeans Method, system and apparatus for internet-based sales generation
US7433876B2 (en) * 2004-02-23 2008-10-07 Radar Networks, Inc. Semantic web portal and platform

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
International Search Report for PCT/NL2005/000651 dated Oct. 4, 2005.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2006028371A8 (en) 2006-06-01
CN101057450A (zh) 2007-10-17
CN101057450B (zh) 2010-09-29
EP1790118B1 (en) 2010-04-28
EP1635504A1 (en) 2006-03-15
ATE466432T1 (de) 2010-05-15
JP2008512931A (ja) 2008-04-24
EP1790118A1 (en) 2007-05-30
DE602005020947D1 (de) 2010-06-10
WO2006028371A1 (en) 2006-03-16
US20080259838A1 (en) 2008-10-23

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7921198B2 (en) Method and device for managing multicast groups
US8396019B2 (en) Network system, network apparatus and transfer apparatus
CN100417141C (zh) 一种组播业务实现方法
US20130195107A1 (en) Method for Managing Multicast Traffic in a Data Netwrok and Network Equipment Using Said Method
CN101258414A (zh) 增强型多播vlan注册
US20130266010A1 (en) Efficient transmission of data to multiple network nodes
US8724993B2 (en) Station side device and optical communication system
KR101048572B1 (ko) 수동형 가입자 네트워크에서 푸시형 멀티캐스트의 인터넷 그룹 관리 시스템 및 그 방법
US8699395B2 (en) Method and device for inverse multiplexing of multicast transmission
CN203416281U (zh) 一个拨号控制设备、网络流量处理设备及通信系统
JP2015516739A (ja) ネットワークを介した情報信号の送受信方法、当該方法を利用する送信器及び受信器、ネットワーク内で利用するためのスプリッタユニット
JP4726632B2 (ja) マルチキャストアドレスおよび／または関連するポートナンバの形成方法、およびデータストリームサーバ
JP2007180960A (ja) マルチキャスト制御装置
CA2652730C (en) Method and system for establishing communication relations
KR100871512B1 (ko) 패킷 메시지를 중계하기 위한 ｉｐ 시스템 및 그 방법
CN101321259B (zh) 多媒体设备控制系统、控制数据传输及处理装置和方法
CN103297423A (zh) 一个通信方法及设备、系统
US20040037280A1 (en) Method for multicasting information via at least one communications network
US8880737B1 (en) Smart immediate leave for internet group management protocol (IGMP) system
US20060039375A1 (en) Method, communication system and communication device for trainsmitting broadcasting information via a communication network
JP2007251707A (ja) マルチキャスト中継装置
EP1244253A1 (en) Communication device
JP7084766B2 (ja) Ｉｐビデオ割込装置
JP4654827B2 (ja) リング型データ伝送システム、データ伝送方法及び送信装置
US8874796B1 (en) Techniques for using a general query to circumvent specific query response failure in an IGMP system

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST-NATUURWETEN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:LAARHUIS, JAN HERMAN;REEL/FRAME:019567/0823

Effective date: 20070617

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYER NUMBER DE-ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: RMPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

CC Certificate of correction
MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1551)

Year of fee payment: 4

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1552); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 8

AS Assignment

Owner name: INFOTECH LABS, LLC, DELAWARE

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST-NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO;REEL/FRAME:060683/0905

Effective date: 20220422